In phase corrugated plate membrane module support

Abstract

In a plate type membrane module in which a number of units, each comprising a membrane supporting plate with corrugated surfaces, and membranes formed on the corrugated surfaces, with permeate passageways between the membrane and the corrugated surfaces, are laminated in such a manner that passageways for a solution to be filtered are formed between the units. The waveforms of the confronted corrugated surfaces of adjacent membrane supporting plates are in same phase with each other. Thereby the pulsation of the solution and accordingly the vibration of the membranes can be effectively prevented, with the result that the membranes are prevented from early fatigue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A plate type membrane module comprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising: a membrane supporting plate having both sides corrugated; and   membranes formed on said corrugated sides, with permeate passageways formed between said membranes and said corrugated sides;   wherein said units are laminated in such a manner that raw solution passageways of substantially constant width are formed between said units for fluid flow in directions substantially parallel to said corrugated sides, such that the shape of said raw solution passageways are determined solely by the shape of said corrugated sides and said membranes; and   wherein waveforms of said corrugated sides of immediate adjacent ones of said membrane supporting plates which are confronted with each other are in phase with each other.   
     
     
       2. A membrane module as claimed in claim 1, in which: p/h is in a range of from 4 to 18, where p is a pitch of the waveforms of said membrane supporting plates and h is an amplitude of the waveforms; and   h/b is 3.0 or less but greater than 0, where b is a minimum width of passageways between said membrane supporting plates.   
     
     
       3. A membrane module as claimed in claim 2, in which h/b is in a range of 0.5 to 2.0. 
     
     
       4. A membrane module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said membrane supporting plates includes a first through hole communicating with said raw solution passageways for inputting a raw solution, a second through hole communicating with said raw solution passageways for outputting said raw solution and a third through hole for outputting a permeate.